Punjab CM says, will deal with anyone trying to destroy state’s peace with iron hand, Says Capt Amarinder

Chandigarh: Warning against the nefarious designs of any elements that try to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh declared that he would deal with Pak-based terrorists and gangsters, seeking to create problems in the state, with an iron hand.

In his concluding remarks on the debate on motion of thanks on the Governor's address in the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha, the Chief Minister made it clear that he would not let anyone destroy the state’s hard-earned peace under any circumstances.

His government, said the Chief Minister, had worked hard to protect every section of the society, including the minorities, the weaker sections and women, by ensuring all-round peace, without which there could be no investment or industrial development in the state.

Nobody wants to invest in a place where there is no peace, said Captain Amarinder, adding that Punjab had emerged now as the preferred destination for investment as a result of the prevailing peaceful environment.

Punjab and its people want peace, harmony and economic progress, and he was committed to ensuring that nobody is allowed to hinder the same, said Captain Amarinder. The people of Punjab want growth with peace and amity, and that is the endeavour of our government, he said, vowing to “continue with our efforts”, to achieve the task to the satisfaction of the common man.

The state had been through hard times, with 35000 people martyred and 1700 policemen killed during the troubled days of militancy, said the Chief Minister, adding that it had taken a lot of effort for Punjab to come out of those times and he will not let the peace of the state be destroyed again at any cost.

“We have not and shall not allow hard-earned peace of the state disturbed in any manner,” he said, adding that law and order had received priority attention of his government, which had launched various legal and administrative reforms to ensure the same.

Since 2017, Punjab Police had neutralized 2378 gangsters, captured 1349 firearms, recovered 614 snatched vehicles, and busted about 32 terrorist modules in the State. “These efforts shall continue and if so required, we will not hesitate to take every possible stern action to maintain law and order in the state,” declared the Chief Minister./(Feb 26)